Orlando Furioso · Chapter
Canto XII explained
Orlando, in a fury, pursues a knight who has taken his lady-love, only to find himself trapped in the enchanted palace of Atlantes, where many other knights are also imprisoned.
What happens
Orlando, in a fury, pursues a knight who has taken his lady-love, only to find himself trapped in the enchanted palace of Atlantes, where many other knights are also imprisoned. He later encounters a maiden in a cave, and the canto also features a confrontation between Orlando, Sacripant, and Ferraù over Angelica.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Chivalry
Orlando's relentless pursuit of Angelica exemplifies the chivalric quest for love.
Magic and the Supernatural
Atlantes' enchanted palace and Angelica's ring highlight the role of magic in the narrative.
Betrayal and Deception
The deceptive appearances in the enchanted palace lead knights to chase illusions.
Characters to notice
- Orlando
Pursues a knight carrying his lady-love, enters Atlantes' enchanted palace, and later fights Ferraù.
- Angelica
The lady-love Orlando seeks; she uses her ring to escape and observes the knights' confusion.
- Rogero
Mentioned as the one Atlantes' dome was built to detain.
- Ferraù
Challenges Orlando and Sacripant, vowing to win Orlando's helm.
- Sacripant
Present in the enchanted palace and later confronts Ferraù alongside Orlando.
- Atlantes
The enchanter who raised the dome to detain Rogero.
- Gradasso
Found wandering in the enchanted palace.
- Brandimart
Also trapped in the enchanted palace.
Key passages
“Ceres, when from the Idaean dame in haste Returning to the lonely valley, where Enceladus the Aetnaean mountain placed On his bolt-smitten flanks, is doomed to bear, Her girl she found not, on that pathless waste, By her late quitted, having rent her hair, And marked cheeks, eyes, and breast, with livid signs, At the end of her lament tore up two pines, And lit at Vulcan’s fire the double brand, And gave them virtue never to be spent; And, afterwards, with one in either hand, Drawn by two dragons, in her chariot went, Searching the forest, hill, and level land, Field, valley, running stream, or water pent, The land and sea; and having searched the shell Of earth above, descended into hell.”
The poet compares Orlando's frantic search for Angelica to the goddess Ceres' desperate search for her daughter Proserpina, who was abducted to the underworld.
This epic simile emphasizes Orlando's obsessive and all-consuming quest.
“He who is lady-love and goddess’ flight Beholds, borne off in such afflicted cheer, Impelled by fury foul, and angry spite, Calls back with horrid voice the cavalier; Calls back the cavalier, and threats in vain, And Brigliadoro drives with flowing rein.”
Orlando sees what he believes to be Angelica being carried away and furiously chases the knight, shouting threats and spurring his horse Brigliador.
Highlights Orlando's impulsive rage and mistaken perception.
“All in pursuit of the offender speed, And upon him some charge of robbery lay: One knight complains that he has stolen his steed, One that he has purloined his lady gay. Other accuses him of other deed: And thus within the enchanted cage they stay, Nor can depart; while in the palace pent, Many have weeks and months together spent.”
Many knights are trapped in the enchanted palace, each accusing the invisible lord of stealing something precious, and they cannot leave.
Illustrates the theme of deception and the power of Atlantes' magic.
“Ferraù halts not, and Roland fast pursues, Nor Sacripant less plies the rowels bright. Angelica, this while, retrains her steed, And follows the three warriors with less speed.”
Ferraù, Orlando, and Sacripant chase after Angelica, but she slows her horse and watches them from behind.
Shows Angelica's cunning and control over the situation.
